Aviation requires extremely high safety standards, so what inspired CEA to begin using additive manufacturing (AM)? In 2015, CEA’s first brand-new Boeing 777 passenger aircraft had misprinted seat signs. The cost for purchasing replacements was too expensive for such a small error, so engineers used 3D printing. The new signs were ready in three days at a much lower cost, so CEA quickly set up a dedicated AM lab to explore more applications for 3D printing.

“China Eastern Airlines plans to introduce the new Airbus 350 which is equipped with over 1,000 3D-printed flying parts. As a complementary method to the traditional manufacturing, 3D printing will become more widely adopted in the future. It’s critical to gain the expertise and be well-prepared for future challenges.”